Modern Day Nero

Its just a dreadful situation...and it makes me so angry. ..! I was in Egypt when the war started and went to a demonstration in Cairo. I want it to stop. But now it seems like its no way back...

Yes we can't reset the clock and go back. Too many people killed--I heard yesterday the estimate of Iraqis killed is 1 million and many more injured--too much blood has been shed and there's no going back but the carnage must stop and the US and all other forces must get out, reparations--as if there is anything valuable enough to compensate for the loss of a life--must be paid to rebuild the country. Bush and his cronies must be put on trial for crimes against humanity.

Do you think its a solution to withdraw the forces? We had this debate here re Afghanistan, if our forces should be withdrawn. Honestly I'm not sure if its a solution, because it would put people in danger and let the Talibans & their likes back to power...

Its that difficult balance,,, one cannot withdraw without risking the countries fall totally into anarchy, yet a foreign military presence its not to be wanted.

I fear its a quagmire (if thats the right word) and no satisfactory solution is to be found. Its a choice between what to choose of lesser evils. The damage have been done already.

"...one cannot withdraw without risking the countries fall totally into anarchy "
I am sorry Ann but I do not buy this argument. It is the same old "orientalist" view that somehow without the intervention of the "civilized" west the "orient"--in a very large sense of the word meaning "uncivilized" barbarians--would fall into anarchy and kill each other (I have to hasten to add that I don't believe that you espouse this orientalist view).
Afghanistan and Iraq have a very long history and have had a system of resolving conflict and dispute. It might not be what we are used to and believe to be democratic but it has worked for centuries and might still work if given a chance.
In Afghanistan the appearance of peace and stability is nothing more than that--appearance. The central government has no authority outside of Kabul. The various provinces are under the control of the various warlords.
In Iraq the sectarian fighting is the result of the occupation and its policies of divide and conquer, the old tactic used by the colonial powers to maintain their control over the indigenous population by extending privileges and granting power to some to the detriment of the other segments of the population.
I am certain that withdrawing the foreign occupation forces will result in a movement among all the various segments of the population to reach a mutually acceptable resolution. Yes there maybe an initial jostling for position but that is already going on with the presence of those foreign occupation troops so it won't be brought about by their withdrawal.

I totally agree with you that democracy is possible without Western intervention - and not only possible; In order for democracy to succeed its imperative that the West realize (and accept) that it will be "another form" of democracy, one that take cultural, historical etc differences into consideration. Its not a lesser democracy than the western, its different. That is crucial, I think.

But my concern now is that its already, in some areas, the rule of pure anarchy. And the civilians are suffering. Who shall stop it? The corrupt regime, their paid-of police? The fanatics? None of them will. I don't think an military foreign force is the answer either - but some must intervene, like one did in .. Rawanda, or Kosovo..

You see what I mean? Thats why it pisses me so of when its talk about using force against Iran, one should support the already existing forces (I did meet Shrin Ebaid once, a wise woman, who said the same).

But now the damage has been done. How to make it right? Its nearly impossible for any movement to stand up, all alone, against the corruption and violence. .. I don't have the answer but I do have doubts that withdrawing is the only solution... I'm sorry.

(written in haste, I might add.. ..)

I fully understand what you mean and I do share your frustration and anger--I too am so pissed off and angry at the callousness and indifference to the suffering of the innocent.
I do not have the answers as to what must be done but I think that one approach is to convene a conference where the various forces within the country--this does not include the occupation forces--have the opportunity to sit down and hammer-out an agreement on the form of government and power sharing mechanism to ensure fair and just representation of all interests--local interests not those of other powers and governments.
This conference will not have any foreign presence and pretense by anybody to broker an agreement. Those who are responsible for the destruction of Iraq and of Afghanistan must be held responsible for the payment of reparations--UNCONDITIONALLY--without any say in the manner of how it is used--in other words completely butt out from interfering in other peoples' affairs.
There must be an agreement to respect the decisions and agreements reached by those concerned. In other words, people must exercise their right to self-determination without interference and the rest of the world must accept this fact and support it.

5 years... again, the concept of blitzkrieg proves to be quite wrong........

Yes you're quite right. Also the idea that any people would welcome an occupation force is preposterous and quite foolish.

please watch & listen today - its the last day today

Formidable and achy collage! Great work about the manic world.

Thanks Peter. It is truly a crazy world we live in.

violent ? ...

Salut Jocelyne. Oui c'est certainement violent. Cette piece est faite a l'occasion de la cinquième anniversaire de la guerre en Iraq. Il n`y a rien de paisible dans une situation de guerre. Le criminel a la Maison Blanche cependant vit paisiblement sans remords et sans soucis. Quatre milles soldats Americains ont perdus la vie mais personne ne sait exactement combien d'Iraqiens ont étaient tués--certainement beaucoup plus que quatre milles peut être un million !!!

le problème est que chacun se croit si certain de détenir la vérité et que ton pays est certain de détenir la suprématie. Un tout petit peu dégueulasse tout cela mais tellement vrai pas seulement ici.

Its a great image Aref, such a horrific message !

I just find it incredible that Bush [the idiot] is probably the most powerful person on the planet, the American people, no, the world deserve better.
Thanks for this image ... good title.

This is a terrible picture. We should say as always after a war, never again, but it is still going on.